Collapsible crate



April 10', 1928. 1,665,266 T. s. HUSTON I COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed Jam-l9, 1925 INVE T 5- Hu ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES THOMAS S. HUSTON, OF DENVER, CDLORADO.

GOLLAPSIBLE enema.

Application filed January This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in collapsible crates of the class used for shipping vegetables and other produce, commodities or merchandise and its primary object is to provide a crate in which lightness and simplicity of construction are combined with strength, durability and practicability in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate of the above described character composed in its entirety of but four sections which when the crate is not in use are alined in a single plane to facilitate shipping and storage, and still other objects reside in providing a crate which is readily opened and reclosed for inspection of its contents, and which by the peculiar manner in which its sections are joined together, is firm and completely rigid when set up for use.

An embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved crate in condition ready for use;

Figure 2, a plan view of the crate in its flat or unfolded condition;

Figure 3, an enlarged perspective view of one of the joints between the hinged sections I of the crate;

Figure i, a similar view of the joint by which the normally separated end-sections of the crate are fastened together; and

Figure 5, a like view showing a modification of the joint illustrated in Figure at.

Referring further to the drawings, the crate is composed of four sections A, B, C and l), each made of parallel side-strips 5 connected by slats 6.

The sections are hinged together by straps 7 of pliable metal and the adjoining ends of their side-strips are beveled as at 8 to form mitered joints when the sections are placed at right angles to each other as shown in Figure 1.

The end-section D of the crate has at its free end similar straps 9 for its connection with the corresponding end of the other endsection A as best shown in Figure 4- in which these sections fit square against each other and the straps 9 after having been bent upon the section A are each fastened by a single nail 10.

The end-sections may if so desired be 19, 1925. Serial N0. 3,391.

beveled at the extremities of their side-strips to abut in a mitered joint 12 as shown in Figure 5.

he pliable hinge-straps and connecting straps are secured at the ends of the strips 5 of the sections by nails and they permit of the crate being folded and unfolded or opened and rcclosed with little effort while maintaining the sections in co-operative relation to each other.

The mitered joints between the sections coordinate with the strap-hinges to insure the rigidity of the crate when set-up for use and the presence of the side strips with the connecting slats fastened at the outer faces thereof, obviates the provision of means at the ends of the crate to hold the merchandise in place therein.

l Vhen the crate is unfolded for shipping or storage, the four sections of which it is composed extend in alinement in a single plane as shown in Figure 2 so as to occupy the minimum amount of space and the metal hinge-straps and connecting straps provide simple means for holding the sections of the crate together in a manner which permits of its repeated use.

Another advantageous feature of the construction is that the crates in their unfolded condition can be nested by reversing their position alternately.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An open ended folding crate composed of only four sections connected by pliable straps, the sections being of uniform width and each composed of parallel side strips connected by widely spaced slats, the pliable straps being held between the slats adjacent the ends of the sections and the side strips, said straps being adapted to furnish a hinged connection for the sections and pliable straps held between the last slat and the side strips at the free end of one of the end sections, said last mentioned straps lapping over and being fastened to the outside of the end slat of the other end section when the crate is in its folded condition, the sections being relatively arranged so that they can be placed in alignment in one plane for shipping or storage, or placed at right angles to each other to form a crate of rectangular form.

2. An open ended folding crate composed of four sections connected by pliable straps,

inane each section being composed of parallel side strips connected by spaced slats, saidstraps being held and concealed between the slats adjacent the ends of the sections and the side strips, said straps A being adapted to furnish a hinged connection for the sections, and pliable straps being held between and partially concealed by the last slat and the side strips at the free end of one of the endsections, said last mentioned straps hav- 1 ing unconcealed ends adapted to lap over and fasten to the outside of the end slat of theother end section.

In testimony whereof I have allixed my signature.

THOMAS S. HUSTON. 

